Inertial Measurement Unit

ABSTRACT

An inertial measurement unit includes: a sensor unit having at least one inertial sensor; a display unit performing a display based on detection information from the inertial sensor; and a mode changeover switch. The mode changeover switch changes a display mode of the display unit.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JPApplication Serial Number 2019-178184, filed Sep. 30, 2019, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an inertial measurement unit and thelike.

2. Related Art

Recently, with the increasing precision of manufacturing devices andmeasuring devices or the like, vibration measurement to improve theefficiency and yield of production processes has become more important.Therefore, simplified device vibration measurement and ambient vibrationmeasurement are desired. For example, JP-A-2016-205868 discloses avibration monitoring device in which a vibration detection unit detectsa vibration, using a vibration sensor, and wirelessly transmitsvibration data acquired by the detection, and in which a vibrationmonitor receives the transmitted vibration data and displays thevibration data at a display unit. In this vibration monitoring device,the vibration detection unit detects a vibration of a device and anambient vibration, and the detected vibration data can be displayed atthe display unit of the vibration monitor provided separately from thevibration detection unit.

Using an inertial measurement unit having an inertial sensor such as anacceleration sensor or angular velocity sensor enables the monitoring ofthe state of a device or the monitoring of the ambient state asdescribed above. However, when using the technique of displaying theresult of the measurement by the inertial measurement unit at thedisplay unit provided separately from the inertial measurement unit, asin JP-A-2016-205868, the user needs to check the result of themeasurement by looking at the display unit provided separately from theinertial measurement unit. This makes the checking work complicated forthe user. Also, since the content of information to be displayed at thedisplay unit based on the detection information from the inertial sensorvaries depending on the user using the inertial measurement unit,various demands about the display form of the display information needto be met.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to an inertial measurementunit including: a sensor unit having at least one inertial sensor; adisplay unit performing a display based on detection information fromthe inertial sensor; and a mode changeover switch. The mode changeoverswitch changes a display mode of the display unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of aninertial measurement unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another configuration example ofthe inertial measurement unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inertial measurement unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the inertial measurement unit.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the inertial measurement unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a protection plate.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a protection plate.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a display unit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a mode changeover switch, a resetswitch, and a measurement start switch.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a changeover of display mode.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a changeover of display mode.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a wireless communication unit and anantenna unit.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the coupling between asensor-side connector and a substrate-side connector.

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram explaining an operation of theinertial measurement unit.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a first configuration exampleof a sensor unit.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a second configurationexample of the sensor unit.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a sensor substrate in the second configurationexample.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment will now be described. The embodiment described below doesnot unduly limit the contents described in the appended claims. Not allthe components described in the embodiment are essential components.

1. Inertial Measurement Unit

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of aninertial measurement unit 10 according to this embodiment. The inertialmeasurement unit (IMU) 10 includes a sensor unit 20. The inertialmeasurement unit 10 can also include fixing members 11, 12, 13, asubstrate 40, a base 150, and a protection plate 160. In FIG. 1, adirection from the inertial measurement unit 10 toward an installationsurface 2 for the inertial measurement unit 10 is defined as a directionDR1, and a direction orthogonal to DR1 is defined as a direction DR2.The direction DR1 is a direction orthogonal to the installation surface2 and, for example, orthogonal to a main surface of the sensor unit 20.The main surface is a top surface or bottom surface of the sensor unit20 and, for example, a surface orthogonal to a lateral surface. Adirection DR3 is a direction orthogonal to the direction DR1 and thedirection DR2. Directions DR4, DR5, DR6 are the opposite directions ofthe directions DR1, DR2, DR3, respectively. The directions DR1, DR2,DR3, DR4, DR5, DR6 are a first direction, a second direction, a thirddirection, a fourth direction, a fifth direction, and a sixth direction,respectively.

The sensor unit 20 includes at least one inertial sensor. The inertialsensor is a physical quantity sensor detecting physical quantityinformation. Specifically, as described later with reference to FIGS.15, 16, and 17, the sensor unit 20 includes at least one accelerationsensor, as at least one inertial sensor. Alternatively, the sensor unit20 includes at least one acceleration sensor and at least one angularvelocity sensor, as at least one inertial sensor. The angular velocitysensor is, for example, a gyro sensor. The inertial sensor is notlimited to the acceleration sensor or the angular velocity sensor andmay be any sensor configured to detect information about inertia by anydetection technique. The inertial sensor may be a physical quantitysensor configured to detect a physical quantity equivalent to anacceleration or angular velocity. The inertial sensor may be, forexample, a physical quantity sensor configured to detect a physicalquantity such as a velocity or angular acceleration. The sensor unit 20includes a case 24. For example, the sensor unit 20 includes a sensorsubstrate 210 provided with at least one inertial sensor, and the case24 accommodating the sensor substrate 210, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17,described later. The case 24 is formed of an electrically conductivemember such as a metal and is provided with the sensor substrate 210 inan accommodation space inside the case 24.

The substrate 40 is provided with at least one of a processing unit 50and a display unit 60. In FIG. 1, both of the processing unit 50 and thedisplay unit 60 are provided at the substrate 40. However, for example,only the processing unit 50 may be provided at the substrate 40, or onlythe display unit 60 may be provided at the substrate 40. The substrate40 is a circuit board, for example, a printed circuit board where ametal wiring is formed. The substrate 40 is, for example, a rigidsubstrate.

The processing unit 50 performs processing based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20. Theprocessing unit 50 is a processing circuit and can be implemented by aprocessor such as an MPU or CPU. Alternatively, the processing unit 50may be implemented by an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit)by automatic placement and routing of a gate array or the like. Forexample, the processing unit 50 is electrically coupled to the inertialsensor of the sensor unit 20 via a connector or the like, as describedlater. The detection information from the inertial sensor is inputted tothe processing unit 50 via the connector or the like. The detectioninformation is, for example, acceleration information, angular velocityinformation, or information based on these pieces of information. Theprocessing unit 50 performs various kinds of processing based on thedetection information from the inertial sensor. For example, theprocessing unit 50 performs processing to process the detectioninformation. For example, the processing unit 50 performs processing toprocess the detection information into information that is appropriateas display information to be displayed at the display unit 60 or at adisplay unit 70 shown in FIG. 2, described later. The processing unit 50also performs analysis processing to analyze the detection information.For example, the processing unit 50 performs analysis processing toanalyze a vibration, tilt, or attitude or the like of a measuringtarget, based on the detection information from the inertial sensor. Forexample, the processing unit 50 performs FFT analysis (Fast FourierTransform analysis) and thus analyzes a frequency component of vibrationinformation or the like, as the analysis processing.

The display unit 60 in FIG. 1 and the display unit in FIG. 2 perform adisplay based on the detection information from the inertial sensor ofthe sensor unit 20. For example, when the inertial measurement unit 10has the processing unit 50 and the display units 60, 70, the processingunit 50 performs processing based on the detection information from theinertial sensor, and the display units 60, 70 performs a display basedon the result of the processing by the processing unit 50. For example,display information based on the result of the processing on thedetection information by the processing unit 50 is displayed at thedisplay units 60, 70. For example, when the processing unit 50 performsprocessing to process the detection information, the display units 60,70 display display information corresponding to the processed detectioninformation. When the processing unit 50 performs analysis processing toanalyze the detection information, the display units 60, 70 displaydisplay information corresponding to the result of the analysis. Forexample, in FIG. 1, the display unit 60, which is a display device, haslight-emitting element groups 62, 64. The light-emitting element of thelight-emitting element groups 62, 64 is an element converting anelectrical signal into a light signal and can be implemented by asemiconductor element such as a light-emitting diode (LED).Alternatively, the light-emitting element may be implemented by otherelements than the semiconductor element. In FIG. 2, the display unit 70,which is a display module, has a display panel 72. The display panel 72is, for example, an organic EL panel, liquid crystal panel or the like.

The substrate 40 is also provided with a mode changeover switch 80, areset switch 82, and a measurement start switch 84. The substrate 40 isalso provided with a wireless communication unit 90 and an antenna unit92. These switches and the wireless communication unit 90 and the likewill be described in detail later.

The substrate 40 is also provided with an interface unit 100. Theinterface unit 100 performs wired communicates with outside. Forexample, the interface unit 100 implements a communication interfacesuch as UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter), GPIO(general-purpose input/output), or SPI (serial peripheral interface).The UART is an asynchronous serial communication interface. The GPIO isa general-purpose communication interface whose operation can becontrolled by the user at the time of execution. The SPI is an interfacecommunicating via three or four signal lines including a serial clocksignal line, a serial data signal line and the like. The substrate 40 isalso provided with an interface unit 101 implementing a JTAG or similarcommunication interface.

The substrate 40 is also provided with memories 102, 103, 104. Thememory 102 is, for example, a non-volatile memory and is implemented,for example, by an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory) where data is electrically erasable, or an OTP (one timeprogrammable) memory using a FAMOS (floating-gate avalanche injectionMOS) or the like. The memories 103, 104 are, for example, SRAMstemporarily storing data. The substrate 40 is also provided with a powerinterface 106. External power is supplied to the inertial measurementunit 10 via the power interface 106.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes the base 150. The base 150 isa member for installing the inertial measurement unit 10 at theinstallation surface 2. For example, the sensor unit 20 is providedbetween the base 150 and the substrate 40, and the base 150 is fixed tothe sensor unit 20 by the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are at leastone fixing member. For example, the base 150 is provided between thesensor unit 20 and the installation surface 2. The installation surface2 is, for example, a surface of a device such as a manufacturing deviceor a measuring device, or a floor surface where the device is installed.The base 150 has a recess 154 at a bottom surface, which is the surfacefacing the installation surface 2. In cases such as where the inertialmeasurement unit 10 is installed at the installation surface 2 via adouble-sided adhesive tape, the provision of such a recess 154 can makeit easier to strip off the double-sided adhesive tape. The sensor unit20 is provided in contact with the top surface of the base 150.

The protection plate 160 is a member for protecting the substrate 40.The substrate 40 is provided between the sensor unit 20 and theprotection plate 160. Thus, the components installed at the substrate 40such as the processing unit 50, the display unit 60, and the wirelesscommunication unit 90 can be protected using the protection plate 160.For example, the protection plate 160, which is a first protectionplate, is a transparent or semitransparent plate-like member and can beimplemented, for example, by a resin plate of acryl or the like. Theprotection plate 160 may be formed of other materials than acryl. Theprotection plate 160 may be, for example, a resin plate of ABS or PET,or may be formed of other materials than resin.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes at least one fixing memberremovably fixing the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 together.Specifically, in FIG. 1, the inertial measurement unit 10 includes thefixing members 11, 12, 13 as at least one fixing member. Although thethree fixing members 11, 12, 13 are provided in FIG. 1, the number offixing members may be two or fewer, or four or more. In FIG. 1, columnarmembers are provided as the fixing members 11, 12, 13. That is, thefixing members 11, 12, 13 are columnar members having the longitudinaldirection thereof along the direction DR1. As described later, thecolumnar members are provided in such a way as to penetrate holes in thesensor unit 20, the substrate 40 and the like.

FIG. 2 shows another configuration example of the inertial measurementunit 10. In FIG. 2, a substrate 48 is provided in addition to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1. The substrate 48 is provided with thedisplay unit 70 having the display panel 72. The display panel 72, whichis an organic EL panel or liquid crystal panel, performs a display basedon the detection information from the sensor unit 20. For example, theprocessing unit 50 provided at the substrate 40, which is a firstsubstrate, performs analysis processing to analyze a vibration or thelike of a measuring target such as a device or floor surface, based onthe detection information from the inertial sensor of the sensor unit20. The display unit 70 provided at the substrate 48, which is a secondsubstrate, displays information about the result of the analysisprocessing. For example, the display unit 70 displays information aboutthe result of analysis such as FFT on the vibration of the measuringtarget. The display unit 70 displays, for example, information about apeak frequency or peak value of the vibration.

In FIG. 2, a protection plate 170 is provided in addition to theprotection plate 160. The protection plate 170 is, for example, aprotection member for the substrate 48. For example, the substrate 48 isprovided between the protection plate 160 and the protection plate 170.Thus, the protection plate 170 and the like installed at the substrate48 can be protected using the protection plate 170. For example, theprotection plate 170, which is a second protection plate, is atransparent or semitransparent plate-like member and can be implemented,for example, by a resin plate of acryl or the like. The protection plate170 as the second protection plate may be formed of other materials thanacryl and may be formed of other materials than resin, similarly to theprotection plate 160 as the first protection plate. In this way, in FIG.2, the substrate 48 is provided between the protection plate 160 and theprotection plate 170, and the substrate 40 is provided between thesensor unit 20 and the protection plate 160.

The protection plate 170 is provided with a window 174. At the positionof this window 174, the display unit 70 installed at the substrate 48 isarranged. This enables the user to view the information displayed at thedisplay unit 70, via the window 174.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inertial measurement unit10. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor unit 20 is provided with a pluralityof holes 21, 22, 23, and the substrate 40 is provided with a pluralityof holes 41, 42, 43. As the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which arecolumnar members, fit into the plurality of holes 41, 42, 43 provided inthe substrate 40 and the plurality of holes 21, 22, 23 provided in thesensor unit 20, the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 are removablyfixed together. Specifically, the fixing members 11, 12, 13 are providedin such a way as to penetrate the holes 41, 42, 43 in the substrate 40and the holes 21, 22, 23 in the sensor unit 20. Also, the base 150 isprovided with holes 151, 152, 153. As the fixing members 11, 12, 13,which are columnar members, fit into the holes 151, 152, 153 provided inthe base 150, the base 150 is fixed to the sensor unit 20. Also, theprotection plate 160 is provided with a plurality of holes 161, 162, 163and the protection plate 170 is provided with a plurality of holes 171,172, 173. As the fixing members 11, 12, 13 fit into the holes 161, 162,163 and the holes 171, 172, 173, the protection plates 160, 170 areremovably fixed together.

For example, the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are columnar members,are screw members. That is, the fixing members 11, 12, 13 are malescrews threaded on the outer circumference. The holes 151, 152, 153 inthe base 150 are female screws threaded on the inner circumference.Thus, the distal ends of the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are screwmembers, can be screwed into the holes 151, 152, 153 in the base 150.This enables the fixing of the sensor unit 20, the substrate 40, theprotection plates 160, 170 and the like to the base 150. The holes 21,22, 23 in the sensor unit 20, the holes 161, 162, 163 in the protectionplate 160, and the holes 171, 172, 173 in the protection plate 170 arenot threaded on the inner circumference. However, a modified embodimentwhere these holes are threaded can be employed as well.

As shown in FIG. 3, spacers 14, 15, 16 are provided at positionscorresponding to the holes 41, 42, 43 in the substrate 40. Also, spacers17, 18, 19 are provided at positions corresponding to the holes 161,162, 163 in the protection plate 160. When fixing, the fixing members11, 12, 13 penetrate the holes in these spacers 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.Providing such spacers 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 enables provision of aspace between the substrate 40 and the protection plate 160 and betweenthe protection plate 160 and the protection plate 170.

Also, a modified embodiment where the holes in the spacers 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19 are formed as female screws threaded on the innercircumference can be employed as well. As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate48 can be installed as supported by the substrate 40 using a supportpart 44. The protection plate 160 is provided with a slit 164. As thesupport part 44 is installed in such a way as to penetrate the slit 164,the protection plate 160 is arranged between the substrate 40 and thesubstrate 48.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the inertial measurement unit 10. FIG. 5 is abottom view. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 20 is provided betweenthe base 150 and the substrate 40. The substrate 40 is provided betweenthe sensor unit 20 and the protection plate 160. The substrate isprovided between the protection plate 160 and the protection plate 170.As described with reference to FIG. 3, the fixing members 11, 12, 13,which are columnar members, are provided in such a way as to fit intothe holes provided in each of the base 150, the sensor unit 20, thesubstrate 40, the protection plate 160, the substrate 48, and theprotection plate 170. Thus, these members can be removably fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 150 has fixing parts 156, 157 at thebottom surface thereof facing the installation surface 2. The fixingparts 156, 157 are magnets, that is, magnetic bodies. The fixing parts156, 157 are attached to the bottom surface of the base 150, forexample, with a screw. Thus, the fixing parts 156, 157 can be removablyattached to the base 150. For example, the fixing parts 156, 157 arecubic. The bottom surfaces of the fixing parts 156, 157 come intocontact with the installation surface 2. As such fixing parts 156, 157,which are magnets, are provided at the bottom surface of the base 150,the inertial measurement unit 10 can be easily installed, for example,at a metal surface or the like of a device by the magnetic force of themagnets.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the protection plate 160. As shown in FIG. 6,the protection plate 160 is provided with the holes 161, 162, 163 to bepenetrated by the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are columnar members.The protection plate 160 is also provided with the slit 164 to bepenetrated by the support part 44 for supporting the substrate 48. InFIG. 6, the protection plate 160 is shown as a transparent plate-likemember.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the protection plate 170. As shown in FIG. 7,the protection plate 170 is provided with the holes 171, 172, 173 to bepenetrated by the fixing members 11, 12, 13. The screw heads of thefixing members 11, 12, 13, which are screw members, are located abovethe holes 171, 172, 173, as shown in FIG. 3. The protection plate 170 isalso provided with the window 174 so that the user can view the displayunit 70 below. The protection plate 170 is also provided with windows175, 176 so that the user can view the light-emitting element groups 62,64 of the display unit 60 below. In FIG. 7, the protection plate 170 isshown as a semitransparent plate-like member colored in a predeterminedcolor such as blue. On the protection plate 170, letters for explainingthe functions of switches, described later, and letters for notifyingthe content of display information at the light-emitting element groups62, 64, are written.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the display unit 70. The display unit 70 hasthe display panel 72. A signal line for transmitting a drive signal forthe display panel 72 is electrically coupled to a coupling terminal inthe display unit 70 from the substrate 40 below, via the support part 44and the substrate 48. This coupling terminal is provided, for example,on the right side of the display panel 72 as viewed in FIG. 8.

As described above, the inertial measurement unit 10 according to thisembodiment includes: the sensor unit 20 having at least one inertialsensor; the substrate 40 provided with at least one of the processingunit 50 performing processing based on detection information from theinertial sensor and the display unit 60 performing a display based onthe detection information; and at least one fixing member 11, 12, 13removably fixing the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 together.

In the inertial measurement unit 10 according to this embodiment, theprocessing unit 50 provided at the substrate 40 can execute processingbased on detection information from the inertial sensor of the sensorunit 20, and the display unit 60 provided at the substrate 40 canperform a display based on the detection information. In FIG. 1, thedisplay unit 60 having the light-emitting element groups 62, 64 isprovided at the substrate 40. However, the display unit 70 having thedisplay panel 72 may be provided at the substrate 40, as shown in FIG.2.

In this embodiment, the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 areremovably fixed together using the fixing members 11, 12, 13, as shownin FIG. 3. For example, the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 arefixed together in a freely removable manner. Thus, the type of thesensor unit 20 and the type of the substrate 40 incorporated into theinertial measurement unit 10 can be freely changed. For example, thesensor unit 20 having an acceleration sensor can be incorporated intothe inertial measurement unit 10, or the sensor unit 20 having both ofan acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, or the like, canbe incorporated into the inertial measurement unit 10. Alternatively,the substrate 40 provided only with the processing unit 50 can beincorporated into the inertial measurement unit 10, or the substrate 40provided only with the display unit 60 can be incorporated into theinertial measurement unit 10. Also, the substrate 40 provided with bothof the processing unit 50 and the display unit 60, or the like, can beincorporated into the inertial measurement unit 10. Thus, variousdemands by the user using the inertial measurement unit 10 can be metand the extensibility of the inertial measurement unit 10 can beimproved. Also, the inertial measurement unit 10 can be installed at theinstallation surface 2 in the state where the sensor unit 20 and thesubstrate 40 are firmly fixed together via the fixing members 11, 12,13. Therefore, a situation where an unwanted vibration or the like dueto resonance or the like is transmitted to the inertial measurement unit10 and adversely affects the measurement by the inertial measurementunit 10 can be restrained. Thus, the inertial measurement unit 10 inwhich extensibility can be improved while deterioration in the accuracyof measurement is restrained can be provided.

For example, according to the related art, the sensor unit 20 itself isused as the inertial measurement unit 10, and the detection informationfrom the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20 is outputted from aconnector 26 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, described later. For example,acceleration information and angular velocity information detected bythe inertial sensor are outputted directly as the detection information.However, handling the detection information from the inertial sensor isdifficult and needs expertise, and therefore has the problem of pooruser-friendliness. In this case, a technique such as coupling a PC(personal computer) to the connector 26 of the sensor unit 20, thenusing the PC to perform various kinds of processing such as analysisprocessing on the detection information, and displaying the result ofthe analysis at the display unit, may be employed. However, in thistechnique, the PC needs to be coupled to the sensor unit 20 to performvarious kinds of work. Therefore, the technique has a problem in thatthe work becomes complicated and that the scale of the measuring systemincreases.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40are fixed together via the fixing members 11, 12, 13, thus forming theinertial measurement unit 10. Therefore, processing such as analysisprocessing on detection information from the inertial sensor of thesensor unit 20 can be performed using the processing unit 50 provided atthe substrate 40, and a display based on the detection information canbe performed using the display unit 60 provided at the substrate 40. Forexample, there is no need to couple a PC to the inertial measurementunit 10 to perform processing based on detection information or toperform a display based on the detection information. Therefore,user-friendliness can be improved. That is, simply installing theinertial measurement unit 10 to a measuring target enables processingbased on detection information or a display based on the detectioninformation. For example, when the measuring target is a device such asa manufacturing device or measuring device, or a floor surface where thedevice is installed, the inertial measurement unit 10 is installed onthe installation surface 2 that is a surface of the device or the floorsurface. Then, the processing unit 50 executes processing to analyze avibration of the device or the floor surface. Information about theresult of the processing can be outputted to outside via the wirelesscommunication unit 90 and the interface unit 100, or the result of theanalysis can be displayed at the display unit 60. Thus, the state of themeasuring target can be monitored by a highly portable, low-cost andsmall-scale system.

For example, for a user who needs only acceleration information, theinertial measurement unit 10 in which the sensor unit 20 provided withan acceleration sensor as an inertial sensor and the substrate 40 arefixed together via the fixing members 11, 12, 13 is provided. For a userwho need both of acceleration information and angular velocityinformation, the inertial measurement unit 10 in which the sensor unit20 provided with both of an acceleration sensor and an angular velocitysensor as an inertial sensor and the substrate 40 are fixed together viathe fixing members 11, 12, 13 is provided. For a user who wants thedisplay unit 70 having the display panel 72, the inertial measurementunit 10 in which the sensor unit 20, the substrate 40, and the substrate48 provided with the display unit 70 are fixed together via the fixingmembers 11, 12, 13, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided. In this way, theinertial measurement unit 10 meeting various demands by the user can beprovided and the extensibility of the inertial measurement unit 10 canbe increased. Also, since the inertial measurement unit 10 in which thesensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 are firmly fixed together via thefixing members 11, 12, 13 can be provided, it is advantageous in thatdeterioration in the accuracy of the result of measurement by theinertial measurement unit 10 due to an unwanted vibration or the likesuch as resonance can be restrained.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, both of the processing unit 50 and the display unit 60are provided at the substrate 40. However, at least one of theprocessing unit 50 and the display unit 60 may be provided at thesubstrate 40. For example, when the processing unit 50 is not providedat the substrate 40, processing based on detection information may beperformed, for example, using a processing unit 212, described later,provided in the sensor unit 20. Alternatively, the processing unit 50may be provided at the substrate 48 located above the substrate 40. Thedisplay unit 60 may be provided at the substrate 48 instead of at thesubstrate 40. Alternatively, the display unit 60 using a light-emittingelement may not be provided as a display unit in the inertialmeasurement unit 10. The display unit 70 having the display panel 72 maybe provided at the substrate 40.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the inertial measurement unit 10includes a plurality of columnar members as the fixing members 11, 12,13. As the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are the plurality columnarmembers, fit into the plurality of holes 41, 42, 43 provided in thesubstrate 40 and the plurality of holes 21, 22, 23 provided in thesensor unit 20, the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 are removablyfixed together. Thus, various combinations of sensor unit 20 andsubstrate 40 can be freely attached or removed from each other andremovable fixing of the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 can berealized. For example, replacing the sensor unit 20 with a sensor unitof a different type and inserting the fixing members 11, 12, 13 into theholes 21, 22, 23 in the sensor unit can change the type of the sensorunit 20. Also, replacing the substrate 40 with a substrate of adifferent type and inserting the fixing members 11, 12, 13 into theholes 41, 42, 43 in the substrate can change the type of the substrate40. Thus, sensor units 20 and substrates 40 of various types can beprovided as option parts for the user, and the extensibility of theinertial measurement unit 10 can be significantly improved.

For example, the fixing members 11, 12, 13, which are a plurality ofcolumnar members, are screw members. For example, the fixing members 11,12, 13 are male screws threaded on the outer circumference. Using screwmembers as the fixing members 11, 12, 13 in this way enablesscrew-fixing with the screw members. Therefore, the sensor unit 20, thesubstrate 40 and the like can be fixed firmly and stably. Thus,deterioration in the accuracy of the result of measurement by theinertial measurement unit 10 due to an unwanted vibration or the likecaused by resonance or the like can be restrained further. Also, thework of attaching the sensor unit 20, the substrate 40 and the likebecomes easier and work efficiency or the like is improved.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the base 150 forinstalling the inertial measurement unit 10 at the installation surface2. The sensor unit 20 is provided between the base 150 and the substrate40. The base 150 is fixed to the sensor unit 20 via at least one fixingmember 11, 12, 13. For example, the base 150 is a member serving as abase stand for installing the inertial measurement unit 10 at theinstallation surface 2. As the bottom surface or the like of the base150 comes into contact with the installation surface 2, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 is installed on the installation surface 2. Theinstallation surface 2 is, for example, a surface of a device such as amanufacturing device or measuring device, or a floor surface or the likewhere the device is installed. The installation surface 2 is a surfaceof a measuring target. The sensor unit 20 is fixed by the fixing members11, 12, 13 in such a way as to be held between the substrate 40 and thebase 150. Such fixing can restrain deterioration in the accuracy ofdetection of the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20 due to avibration or the like caused by resonance or the like. Even when thebottom surface of the sensor unit 20 does not have a suitable shape forinstallation on the installation surface 2, the bottom surface of thebase 150 instead of the bottom surface of the sensor unit 20 can beattached to the installation surface 2, and this enables tableinstallation of the inertial measurement unit 10. For example, stableinstallation can be achieved regardless of the shape and type of thesensor unit 20, and detection errors or the like due to wobblyinstallation can be prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 150 has the fixing parts 156, 157,which are magnets, on the surface facing the installation surface 2.That is, the fixing parts 156, 157 for fixing the inertial measurementunit 10 to the installation surface 2 are provided at the bottom surfaceof the base 150. These fixing parts 156, 157 are magnets. For example,the fixing parts 156, 157 are cubic magnets. Thus, the bottom surfacesof the fixing parts 156, 157 are attracted to a metal surface or thelike of a device, as the installation surface 2, by the magnetic forceof the magnets. Therefore, simply bringing the bottom surfaces of thefixing parts 156, 157 into contact with the installation surface 2enables the inertial measurement unit 10 to be fixed and installed atthe installation surface 2 by the magnets. This makes it easier for theuser to carry out installation work and can improve work efficiency.

Although FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example where the number of the fixingparts 156, 157 is two, the number of fixing parts is not limited to thisand may be, for example, three or more. The base 150 itself or a part ofthe base 150 may be a magnet.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 150 has the recess 154 on thesurface facing the installation surface 2. That is, the bottom surface,which is the surface facing the installation surface 2, of the base 150has the recess 154 recessed in the direction DR4, which is the oppositedirection of the direction DR1. In cases such as where the inertialmeasurement unit 10 is installed at the installation surface 2 via adouble-sided adhesive tape, the provision of such a recess 154 can makeit easier to strip off the double-sided adhesive tape. That is, in thisembodiment, the inertial measurement unit 10 can be installed at theinstallation surface 2, using a double-sided adhesive tape instead ofusing the fixing parts 156, 157. Specifically, one side of thedouble-sided adhesive tape is attached to the bottom surface of the base150, and the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape is attached tothe installation surface 2. Thus, the inertial measurement unit 10 canbe installed at the installation surface 2 by simple work and can beinstalled at the installation surface 2 even when, for example, theinstallation surface 2 is not a metal surface. In this case, aftermeasurement is finished and the inertial measurement unit 10 is removedfrom the installation surface 2, the double-sided adhesive tape needs tobe stripped off from the bottom surface of the base 150. In this regard,the provision of the recess 154 at the bottom surface of the base 150enables the user as a worker to insert a finger or the like into thisrecess 154 and thus easily strip off the double-sided adhesive tape fromthe bottom surface of the base 150. The inertial measurement unit 10 canalso be installed via a screw as well as the magnets and thedouble-sided adhesive tape.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the substrate 40 is provided with thewireless communication unit 90 wirelessly transmitting information basedon detection information from the inertial sensor. For example, awireless communication IC that is the wireless communication unit 90 isprovided at the substrate 40. The wireless communication unit 90transmits the information based on the detection information from theinertial sensor, to outside. For example, when the processing unit 50performs processing such as analysis processing based on the detectioninformation from the inertial sensor, the wireless communication unit 90transmits information about the result of the processing, to outside.Alternatively, the wireless communication unit 90 may transmit thedetection information itself from the inertial sensor, to outside. Thus,the information based on the detection information from the inertialsensor can be wirelessly transmitted to an external device, even withoutcoupling the inertial measurement unit 10 and the external devicetogether via a wire. For example, the information based on the detectioninformation detected by the inertial sensor can be transmitted to theexternal device, using the wireless communication unit 90, in the statewhere the inertial measurement unit 10 remains installed at theinstallation surface 2. Therefore, improved convenience or the like canbe achieved.

The substrate 40 is also provided with the interface unit 100 for wiredcommunication with outside. For example, the interface unit 100communicates with outside by such a communication interface format asUART, GPIO or SPI. For example, the interface unit 100 transmitsinformation based on detection information from the inertial sensor, toan external device. The provision of such an interface unit 100 can meetvarious demands by the user with respect to the communication interface.For example, UART can be converted to RS-232C so as to couple theinertial measurement unit 10 to various devices. Also, UART can beconverted to Ethernet (trademark registered). Moreover, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 can be coupled to an SD (trademark registered) cardslot device, using SPI. Thus, user-friendliness can be improved.

The substrate 40 is also provided with at least one of the modechangeover switch 80 for changing the mode of the inertial measurementunit 10, the reset switch 82 for resetting the inertial measurement unit10, and the measurement start switch 84 for starting measurement by theinertial measurement unit 10. In FIGS. 1 and 2, all of these switchesare provided. However, in this embodiment, at least one of theseswitches may be provided. As such various switches are provided, theuser can operate each of these switches to cause the inertialmeasurement unit 10 to carry out various operations. This can make themeasuring work simpler and more efficient. When the user operates themode changeover switch 80, the inertial measurement unit 10 switchesbetween various modes. Specifically, the display mode in the displayunits 60, 70 is changed. When the user operates the reset switch 82, theinertial measurement unit 10 becomes reset. When the user operates themeasurement start switch 84, the inertial measurement unit 10 startsmeasurement. The measurement start switch 84 also functions as ameasurement end switch. For example, when the user presses themeasurement start switch 84 before starting measurement, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 shifts into a state monitoring mode and startsmeasurement. Then, when the user presses measurement start switch 84again, the state monitoring mode ends. The measurement start switch 84also functions as a teach switch, as described later.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the protection plate 160.The substrate 40 is provided between the sensor unit 20 and theprotection plate 160. For example, the protection plate 160 is arrangedabove the substrate 40, that is, in the direction DR4 from the substrate40, via a gap space formed by the spacers 14, 15, 16. Thus, a dustprooffunction by the protection plate 160 can be realized. Also, theprotection plate 160, as a protection member, can prevent an unwantedimpact from being applied to the components arranged at the substrate40, such as the processing unit 50, the display unit 60, and thewireless communication unit 90. Also, for example, in FIG. 1, the usercan hold the inertial measurement unit 10 in a hand with its palm incontact with the top surface of the protection plate 160 and thusinstall the inertial measurement unit 10 at the installation surface 2.The provision of the protection plate 160 makes it easier for the userto manually hold the inertial measurement unit 10 and thus makes theinstallation work easier and more efficient.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes, as a substrate, the substrate40 as the first substrate, and the substrate 48 as the second substrate,as shown in FIG. 2. The substrate 40 as the first substrate is providedwith the processing unit 50. The substrate 48 as the second substrate isprovided with the display unit 70 having the display panel 72. Thus, forexample, processing based on detection information from the inertialsensor of the sensor unit 20 is executed by the processing unit 50provided at the substrate 40, and information about the result of theprocessing can be displayed on the display panel 72 of the display unit70 provided at the substrate 48. That is, the information based on thedetection information can be displayed on the display panel 72. Thedisplay panel 72 is formed of an organic EL panel or liquid crystalpanel and therefore can perform a more detailed and advanced display ofinformation than when a light-emitting element is used. For example,numbers and letters about a measured value can be displayed and moreprecise and advanced changeover processing about the display mode can beimplemented. Thus, user-friendliness can be improved. Also, a modifiedembodiment where the display unit 70 having the display panel 72 isprovided at the substrate 40 can be employed.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the protection plate 160as the first protection plate, and the protection plate 170 as thesecond protection plate. The substrate 40 is provided between the sensorunit 20 and the protection plate 160. The substrate 48 is providedbetween the protection plate 160 and the protection plate 170. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, the protection plate 170 is arranged abovethe protection plate 160, that is, in the direction DR4 from theprotection plate 160, via a gap space formed by the spacers 17, 18, 19provided at the holes 161, 162, 163 in the protection plate 160. Thesubstrate 48 is arranged in this gap space. Thus, the protection plate160 can protect the components provided at the substrate 40. Forexample, the components provided at the substrate 40, such as theprocessing unit 50, the wireless communication unit 90, and the displayunit 60, can be protected. The protection plate 170 can protect thecomponents provided at the substrate 48. For example, the componentsprovided at the substrate 48, such as the display unit 70, can beprotected. Thus, damage or the like to the components of the inertialmeasurement unit 10, for example, due to a touch by the user, can beeffectively prevented.

The substrate 40 is also provided with the display unit 60 having thelight-emitting element groups 62, 64. That is, the display unit 60formed of the light-emitting element groups 62, 64 such as LEDs isprovided. Thus, the display of information based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20 can beimplemented via an indication operation based on light emission of thelight-emitting elements of the light-emitting element groups 62, 64. Forexample, information about whether the result of measurement satisfies adetermination criterion or not, or the like, can be sufficientlycommunicated via light emission of the light-emitting elements. Thelight-emitting elements are available at a lower cost than the displaypanel 72 and therefore can achieve cost reduction or the like of theinertial measurement unit 10.

2. Switches

In this embodiment, the user holds the inertial measurement unit 10 insuch a way that the bottom surface of the inertial measurement unit 10comes into contact with the installation surface 2, then installs theinertial measurement unit 10, using a double-sided adhesive tape,magnet, screw or the like, and carries out measurement with the inertialmeasurement unit 10. In this case, it is desired that, when measuringwith the inertial measurement unit 10, the user can easily carry outoperations such as mode setting and measurement start instruction forthe inertial measurement unit 10. Thus, in this embodiment, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 is provided with various switches such as the modechangeover switch 80, the reset switch 82, and the measurement startswitch 84, as shown in FIG. 9. The mode changeover switch 80 is a switchfor changing the mode of the inertial measurement unit 10 andspecifically a switch for changing the display mode of the display unit70. For example, the mode changeover switch 80 is a switch for changingthe mode of display information. The reset switch 82 is a switch forresetting the inertial measurement unit 10. Pressing the reset switch 82initializes the inertial measurement unit 10. The measurement startswitch 84 is a switch for starting measurement by the inertialmeasurement unit 10. The measurement start switch 84 also functions as aswitch for ending measurement by the inertial measurement unit 10. Whenlong-pressed, the measurement start switch 84 functions as a teachswitch for giving an instruction to store measurement criteriainformation for inertial measurement into a memory. Also, the modechangeover switch 80, when long-pressed, functions as a switch forsaving measurement log data. A slide switch 86 is a switch for selectingwireless communication and a communication interface.

The display unit 70 performs a display based on detection informationfrom the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20. For example, in FIG. 9,the display unit 70 shows that a measured vibration satisfies VC-B of VC(vibration criteria), which are ambient vibration criteria. The displayunit 70 also shows information about vibration displacement. In thisembodiment, the display mode of the display unit 70 changes via the modechangeover switch 80. For example, in FIG. 10, the display unit 70 showsa result of determination based on the VC standard. For example, thedisplay unit 70 shows the result of determination that a measuredvibration satisfies VC-B. That is, in a first display mode in FIG. 10,the result of determination based on a first determination criterion isdisplayed. Meanwhile, in FIG. 11, the display unit 70 shows a result ofmeasurement based on a determination criterion set by the user. Forexample, the display unit 70 shows the result of determination that whatpercentage of a threshold set by the user is reached. That is, in asecond display mode in FIG. 11, the result of determination based on asecond determination criterion is displayed. For example, pressing themode changeover switch 80 results in the first display mode in FIG. 10or the second display mode in FIG. 11.

Also, the unit of information displayed based on detection informationfrom the inertial sensor changes via the mode changeover switch 80. Thatis, the display mode changes in terms of unit via the mode changeoverswitch 80. For example, in FIG. 10, the unit of vibration displacement,μm, is shown. Specifically, a peak frequency of vibration displacementand the vibration displacement at the peak frequency are shown. Pressingthe mode changeover switch 80 changes the display of the unit to adisplay of the unit of vibration velocity, mm/s, or a display of theunit of vibration acceleration, Gal. Specifically, pressing the modechangeover switch 80 results in a display of a peak frequency ofvibration velocity and the vibration velocity at the peak frequency, ora display of a peak frequency of vibration acceleration and thevibration acceleration at the peak frequency. For example, the result ofdetermination based on VC is displayed at the beginning, and every timethe mode changeover switch 80 is pressed, the display mode sequentiallychanges to the display of vibration acceleration and peak frequencythereof, the display of vibration velocity and peak frequency thereof,the display of vibration displacement and peak frequency thereof, andthe display of the measured value in percentage terms to the thresholdset by the user.

VC, which are ambient vibration criteria, define VC-A, VC-B, VC-C, VC-D,VC-E and the like. Showing which of these is satisfied enables the userto easily grasp the vibration level of an ambient vibration or the like.The threshold set by the user is stored, for example, into the memory102 in FIG. 1, which is a non-volatile memory, for example, based on thesetup by the user. Alternatively, a threshold may be set via the teachswitch, described later.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mode changeover switch 80 has a moving part 81.The moving part 81 is implemented, for example, by a push-button. It isnow assumed that the direction from the inertial measurement unit 10toward the installation surface 2 is defined as DR1 and that a directionorthogonal to the direction DR1 is defined as DR2. The direction DR1 isa first direction. The direction DR2 is a second direction. Thedirection DR2 is, for example, a direction along the main surface, thatis, the top surface of the sensor unit 20 and the main surface, that is,the top surface of the substrate 40, and for example, along the shortersides of the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40. In this case, themoving part 81 is movable in the direction DR2. That is, the push-buttonas the moving part 81 is movable and can be pressed along a directionsindicated by A1 in FIG. 9. The movement of the moving part 81 of themode changeover switch 80 gives an instruction to change the displaymode of the display unit 70. That is, pressing the push-button as themoving part 81 results in the change in the display mode described withreference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

The moving part 81 of the mode changeover switch 80, when not pressed,protrudes from a side of the sensor unit 20 as viewed in a plan view inthe direction DR1. For example, in FIG. 9, a side SD1 is a first shorterside of the substrate 40, and a side SD2 is a second shorter sideopposite the side SD1. A side SD3 is a first longer side of thesubstrate 40, and a side SD4 is a second longer side opposite the sideSD3. The mode changeover switch 80 is arranged on the side SD3, which isa longer side of the substrate 40. The reset switch 82 and themeasurement start switch 84, too, are arranged on the side SD3. That is,the mode changeover switch 80, the reset switch 82, and the measurementstart switch 84 are arrayed along the side SD3. The moving part 81 ofthe mode changeover switch 80, when not pressed, protrudes from the sideSD3 of the substrate 40 and also protrudes from the side of the sensorunit 20 corresponding to the side SD3 of the substrate 40, as viewed ina plan view. That is, when not pressed, the push-button as the movingpart 81 protrudes from the side SD3. Thus, for example, when the userholds the inertial measurement unit 10 with the palm in contact with thetop surface thereof, the user can press the moving part 81, for example,using a finger of the hand. Therefore, while holding the inertialmeasurement unit 10, the user can press the push-button as the movingpart 81 of the mode changeover switch 80 with a finger of the hand andthus can easily change the display mode of the display unit 70. Forexample, the user can attach the bottom surface of the inertialmeasurement unit 10 to the installation surface 2 and operate the modechangeover switch 80 with a hand's finger. Therefore, user-friendlinesscan be improved.

The reset switch 82 similarly has a moving part 83. The moving part 83can be pressed along directions indicated by A2 in FIG. 9. However, themoving part 83, when not pressed, does not protrude from the side SD3 ofthe substrate 40 and does not protrude from the side of the sensor unit20 and the side of the protection plate 160 corresponding to the sideSD3, either. That is, since pressing the moving part 83 of the resetswitch 82 initializes the inertial measurement unit 10, the moving part83 does not protrude from the side SD3. Thus, the user can be preventedfrom making an erroneous operation such as making a reset operation bymistake.

The measurement start switch 84 similarly has a moving part 85 movablein the direction DR2. The movement of the moving part 85 of themeasurement start switch 84 gives an instruction to start measurement bythe inertial measurement unit 10. That is, a push-button that is themoving part 85 can be moved and pressed along directions indicated by A3in FIG. 9. Pressing the push-button as the moving part 85 startsmeasurement by the inertial measurement unit 10. Then, pressing thepush-button as the moving part 85 again after the measurement is startedends the measurement. That is, the measurement start switch 84 alsofunctions as a measurement end switch.

The moving part 85 of the measurement start switch 84, when not pressed,protrudes from the side SD3 of the substrate 40 and protrudes from theside of the sensor unit 20 corresponding to the side SD3, as viewed in aplan view. That is, when not pressed, the push-button as the moving part85 protrudes from the side SD3. Thus, for example, when the user holdsthe inertial measurement unit 10 with the palm in contact with the topsurface thereof, the user can press the moving part 85, for example,using a finger of the hand. Therefore, while holding the inertialmeasurement unit 10, the user can press the push-button as the movingpart 85 of the measurement start switch 84 with a finger of the hand andthus can easily start measurement. Therefore, user-friendliness can beimproved.

In this embodiment, the measurement start switch 84 also functions as ateach switch, which is a switch for giving an instruction to storemeasurement criteria information for inertial measurement into thememory 102. That is, the measurement start switch 84 functions as ateach switch for causing the inertial measurement unit 10 to learnmeasurement criteria information. Specifically, for example, a longpress on the measurement start switch 84 by the user causes themeasurement start switch 84 to functions as a teach switch. When themeasurement start switch 84 functions as a teach switch, the teachswitch has the moving part 85 movable in the direction DR2 and themovement of the moving part 85 of the teach switch gives an instructionto store measurement criteria information into the memory 102.Specifically, a long press on the measurement start switch 84 causes theinertial measurement unit 10 to shift to a learning mode, which is ateach mode. Then, the inertial measurement unit 10 performs measurementfor learning during a predetermined learning period. Based on an averagevalue or the like of measured values measured during the learningperiod, a threshold that serves as measurement criteria information isfound. The threshold is stored as measurement criteria information intothe memory 102, which is a non-volatile memory. In actual measurement bythe inertial measurement unit 10, determination processing is performedusing the threshold as the measurement criteria information, and theresult of the determination is displayed at the display unit 70. Forexample, the display as shown in FIG. 11 is performed.

As described above, the inertial measurement unit 10 according to thisembodiment includes the sensor unit 20 having at least one inertialsensor, the display unit 70 performing a display based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor, and the mode changeover switch 80.The display mode of the display unit 70 changes via the mode changeoverswitch 80. For example, the changeover of the display mode as describedwith reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 is carried out. For example, the modeof display information at the display unit 70 is changed.

In the inertial measurement unit 10 of such a configuration, the displayunit 70 provided in the inertial measurement unit 10 can perform adisplay based on detection information from the inertial sensor of thesensor unit. For example, simply installing the inertial measurementunit 10 on a measurement target enables the display unit 70 to displayinformation based on detection information. Therefore, there is no needto couple the inertial measurement unit 10 to a PC and cause the displayunit of the PC to perform a display based on detection information.Thus, the work of checking the result of measurement can be simplifiedand user-friendliness can be improved. When the user operates the modechangeover switch 80 provided in the inertial measurement unit 10, thedisplay mode of the display unit 70 changes. Specifically, as describedwith reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, when the user operates the modechangeover switch 80, a change of the display mode takes place, such asdisplaying the result of determination about measurement at the displayunit 70, based on a different determination criterion, or changing theunit of information displayed at the display unit 70. The simpleoperation of operating the mode changeover switch 80 can change thedisplay mode of the display unit 70 in various forms. Thus, variousdemands about the display form of the result of measurement can be metand user-friendliness can be improved further.

In the inertial measurement unit 10 having the configuration describedwith reference to FIG. 9, the mode changeover switch 80 need notnecessarily be provided at the substrate 40 and may be provided, forexample, at other substrates than the substrate 40. For example, themode changeover switch 80 may be provided at the substrate 48, where thedisplay unit 70 is provided, instead of the substrate 40, where theprocessing unit 50 or the like is provided. Alternatively, variousmodified embodiments, for example, installing the mode changeover switch80 at the top surface of the sensor unit 20, can be employed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mode changeover switch 80 has the moving part 81movable in the direction DR2, which is orthogonal to the direction DR1from the inertial measurement unit 10 toward the installation surface 2.The movement of the moving part 81 of the mode changeover switch 80gives an instruction to change the display mode of the display unit 70.Thus, for example, the user can hold the inertial measurement unit 10with the palm in contact with the top surface thereof and can move themoving part 81 in the direction DR2 parallel to the top surface of theinertial measurement unit 10, thus giving an instruction to change thedisplay mode of the display unit 70. Therefore, the user can give aninstruction to change the display mode by a simple operation and cancause the display unit 70 to display information based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor, in a display mode desired by theuser.

The moving part 81 of the mode changeover switch 80, when not pressed,protrudes from a side of the sensor unit 20 as viewed in a plan viewalong the direction DR1. Thus, for example, when the user holds theinertial measurement unit 10 with the palm in contact with the topsurface thereof, the moving part 81 of the mode changeover switch 80 isin a protruding state when not pressed. Therefore, while holding theinertial measurement unit 10, the user can press the protruding movingpart 81, for example, with a finger of the hand, thus causing thedisplay mode of the display unit 70 to change. The simple operation ofpressing the moving part 81 protruding in a direction parallel to thetop surface of the sensor unit 20 when not pressed, changes the displaymode of the display unit 70. Thus, user-friendliness can be improved.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the measurement startswitch 84 for starting measurement by the inertial measurement unit 10.As such a measurement start switch 84 is provided, processing of givinga command to start measurement via a PC or the like is not needed. Whenwishing to start measurement, the user can start measurement by theinertial measurement unit 10 by the simple operation of pressing themeasurement start switch 84.

The measurement start switch 84 has the moving part 85 movable in thedirection DR2, which is orthogonal to the direction DR1 toward theinstallation surface 2. The movement of the moving part 85 of themeasurement start switch 84 gives an instruction to start measurement bythe inertial measurement unit 10. Thus, for example, the user can holdthe inertial measurement unit 10 with the palm in contact with the topsurface thereof and can move the moving part 85 in the direction DR2parallel to the top surface, thus giving an instruction to startmeasurement by the inertial measurement unit 10. Therefore, the user cangive an instruction to start measurement by the inertial measurementunit 10 by a simple operation at a timing desired by the user.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the memory 102 and theteach switch for giving an instruction to store measurement criteriainformation for inertial measurement into the memory 102. In FIG. 9, forexample, the measurement start switch 84 is also used as the teachswitch. When the measurement start switch 84 is long-pressed, theleaning mode sets in and a threshold as the measurement criteriainformation for inertial measurement is stored into the memory 102.Then, for example, the processing unit 50 performs determinationprocessing about measurement based on the threshold as the determinationcriterion, or the display unit 70 displays the result of thedetermination about measurement based on the threshold as thedetermination criterion. Thus, the inertial measurement unit 10 can bemade to learn measurement criteria information corresponding to thestate of a device as a measuring target or the ambient state, and canperform measurement using the measurement criteria information.

The teach switch, also used as the measurement start switch 84, has themoving part 85 movable in the direction DR2. The movement of the movingpart 85 of the teach switch gives an instruction to store measurementcriteria information into the memory 102. Thus, for example, the usercan hold the inertial measurement unit 10 with the palm in contact withthe top surface thereof and can move the moving part 85 in the directionDR2 parallel to the top surface, thus giving an instruction to storemeasurement criteria information into the memory 102. Therefore, theuser can cause the inertial measurement unit 10 to learn measurementcriteria information during a period when the user wants the inertialmeasurement unit 10 to learn the measurement criteria information.

The inertial measurement unit 10 also includes the substrate 40 providedwith the mode changeover switch 80. For example, the mode changeoverswitch 80 is provided at the substrate 40 where the processing unit 50or the display unit 60 or the like is provided. For example, the modechangeover switch 80 is mounted at the substrate 40 arranged parallel tothe top surface of the sensor unit 20. Thus, the mode changeover switch80 can be mounted in a compact form in the inertial measurement unit 10.Particularly, making the direction of movement of the moving part 81 ofthe mode changeover switch 80 parallel to the surface of the substrate40 enables the mode changeover switch 80 to be mounted compactly.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 or the like, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 includes at least one fixing member 11, 12, 13 forremovably fixing the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 together. Thatis, the sensor unit 20 having the inertial sensor, and the substrate 40provided with the mode changeover switch 80, are removably fixedtogether via the fixing members 11, 12, 13. Thus, the type of the sensorunit 20 and the type of the substrate 40 incorporated in the inertialmeasurement unit 10 can be freely changed, and the extensibility of theinertial measurement unit 10 can be improved. The inertial measurementunit 10 can be installed at the installation surface 2 in the statewhere the sensor unit 20 and the substrate 40 are fixed together via thefixing members 11, 12, 13. Therefore, a situation where an unwantedvibration or the like due to resonance or the like is transmitted to theinertial measurement unit 10 and adversely affects the measurement canbe restrained.

Also, the inertial measurement unit 10 includes the substrate 40 as thefirst substrate, and the substrate 48 as the second substrate. The modechangeover switch 80 is provided at the substrate 40. The display unit70 is provided at the substrate 48. The substrate 40 is provided betweenthe sensor unit 20 and the substrate 48. Thus, when the mode changeoverswitch 80 provided at the substrate 40 is operated, the display mode ofthe display unit 70 provided at the substrate 48 changes. The modechangeover switch 80 is provided at the substrate 40 provided betweenthe sensor unit 20 and the substrate 48 and therefore is arranged, forexample, near the center in the direction of the height of the inertialmeasurement unit 10. Therefore, the operability of the mode changeoverswitch 80 can be improved. Meanwhile, the display unit 70 is provided atthe substrate 48 arranged above the substrate 40, that is, in thedirection DR4 from the substrate 40, and therefore can be arranged at aposition visible to the user.

In the first display mode, the display unit 70 displays the result ofdetermination based on the first determination criterion, as the resultof determination in determination processing based on detectioninformation. In the second display mode, the display unit 70 displaysthe result of determination based on the second determination criterion.For example, in the first display mode, the display unit 70 displays theresult of determination as shown in FIG. 10, and in the second displaymode, the display unit 70 displays the result of determination as shownin FIG. 11. Thus, the display mode can be switched between the firstdisplay mode, in which the result of determination based on the firstdetermination criterion is displayed, and the second display mode, inwhich the result of determination based on the second determinationcriterion is displayed, via the mode changeover switch 80. Therefore, asthe user operates the mode changeover switch 80, the result ofdetermination about measurement is displayed at the display unit 70,based on different determination criteria. This enables presentation ofthe result of determination based on various determination criteria tothe user.

In this case, the first determination criterion is a determinationcriterion of VC (vibration criteria) and the second determinationcriterion is a determination criterion set by the user. For example, inthe first display mode, the result of determination is displayed basedon the determination criterion of VC as the first determinationcriterion, as shown in FIG. 10. For example, which of VC-A, VC-B, VC-C,VC-D, VC-E and the like as indicators of ambient vibration criteria issatisfied by a vibration measured by the inertial measurement unit 10 isdisplayed. Meanwhile, in the second display mode, the result ofdetermination is displayed based on the determination criterion set bythe user, as shown in FIG. 11. For example, what degree of thedetermination criterion set by the user is reached by the result ofmeasurement by the inertial measurement unit 10 is displayed. Forexample, when the determination criterion set by the user is athreshold, what proportion of the threshold is reached by the measuredvalue is displayed. Thus, the display mode can be switched between thefirst display mode, in which the result of determination based on the VCdetermination criterion is displayed, and the second display mode, inwhich the result of determination based on the determination criterionset by the user is displayed, via the mode changeover switch 80. Whenthe display unit 60 formed of the light-emitting element groups 62, 64is used, which of VC-A, VC-B, VC-C, VC-D, VC-E and the like is satisfiedis displayed using the light-emitting element group 62, as clear fromFIG. 7. Also, for example, which of L (low), M (middle), and H (high)the peak value is, is displayed using the light-emitting element group64. That is, one of the light-emitting elements corresponding to thepositions of L, M, H emits light, thus displaying which of the lowlevel, the middle level, and the high level the peak value is. “A” inFIG. 7 represents an alarm state. When the light-emitting elementcorresponding to the position of “A” emits light, the user is notifiedthat the alarm state has set in, such as where the measured valueexceeds the threshold.

The mode changeover switch 80 also changes the unit of informationdisplayed based on detection information. For example, in the case ofmeasuring a vibration, the unit of the displayed measured value changesto the unit of vibration displacement (μm), the unit of vibrationvelocity (mm/s), and the unit of vibration acceleration (Gal) or thelike, in response to an operation on the mode changeover switch 80, asshown in FIG. 10. Thus, in response to the operation on the modechangeover switch 80, the measured value can be displayed in variousunits to the user. Therefore, user-friendliness can be improved.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes the processing unit 50performing processing based on detection information. The processingunit 50 performs analysis processing on vibration information of adetection target. The display unit 70 displays information about theresult of the analysis processing. The display unit 60 similarlydisplays information about the result of the analysis processing. Forexample, the processing unit 50 performs analysis processing such as FFTanalysis on vibration information, based on detection information fromthe inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20. The display unit 70 displays,for example, a peak frequency of vibration, vibration displacement atthe peak frequency, vibration velocity, or vibration acceleration or thelike, as the information about the result of the analysis processing.Thus, even when detection information from the inertial sensor isdifficult for the user to handle, the processing unit 50 performsanalysis processing on this detection information and the display unit70 displays information about the result of the analysis processing,enabling the user to easily grasp the vibration state of the detectiontarget.

3. Wireless Communication Unit, Antenna Unit

The inertial measurement unit 10 according to this embodiment isprovided with the wireless communication unit 90 for wirelesslytransmitting, to outside, information based on detection informationfrom the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20, and the antenna unit 92coupled to the wireless communication unit 90. The wirelesscommunication unit 90 is, for example, a device performing near-fieldwireless communication such as Bluetooth (trademark registered,hereinafter simply referred to as BT) and is implemented by a wirelesscommunication IC, which is an integrated circuit device, or the like.The wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit90 is not limited to BT and may be near-field wireless communication ofanother type such as ZigBee or Wi-SUN or may be Wi-Fi (trademarkregistered) wireless communication. Meanwhile, as described withreference to FIGS. 15 to 17 later, the sensor unit 20 includes thesensor substrate 210 provided with the inertial sensor, and theelectrically conductive case 24 accommodating the sensor substrate 210.The case 24 includes, for example, a container 220 and a lid 222. Thesensor substrate 210 is accommodated in an accommodation space formed bythe container 220 and the lid 222. In FIG. 15, acceleration sensors 30X,30Y, 30Z are provided as the inertial sensor at the sensor substrate210. The acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z detect information about anacceleration in directions along an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis,respectively, as detection information. In FIGS. 16 and 17, anacceleration sensor 32 and angular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z areprovided as the inertial sensor at the sensor substrate 210. Theacceleration sensor 32 detects information about an acceleration indirections along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, as detectioninformation. The angular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z detectinformation about an angular velocity about the X-axis, the Y-axis, andthe Z-axis, respectively, as detection information.

In FIGS. 15 to 17, the case 24 is formed of an electrically conductivematerial such as a metal. Since the sensor substrate 210 where theinertial sensor is installed is thus accommodated in the electricallyconductive case 24, adverse effects of external electromagnetic waves orthe like on the inertial sensor can be reduced. For example, when theelectrically conductive case 24 is not provided, externalelectromagnetic waves or the like may cause the problem of drift in thedetection information from the inertial sensor. However, providing theinertial sensor in the electrically conductive case 24 can restrain theoccurrence of such a problem.

Meanwhile, it has been found that the sensitivity of the antenna unit 92drops when such an electrically conductive case 24 is located near theantenna unit 92. For example, the antenna unit 92 is implemented by aninductor of a metal wiring formed at the substrate. For example, whenthe inductor of the metal wiring of the antenna unit 92 is locateddirectly above the electrically conductive case 24, the sensitivity ofthe antenna unit 92 drops significantly.

Thus, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when the direction fromthe inertial measurement unit 10 toward the installation surface 2 isdefined as DR1, the antenna unit 92 is provided in such a way as toprotrude from a side of the case 24 of the sensor unit 20, as viewed ina plan view in the direction DR1. For example, in FIG. 12, the substrate40 has sides SD1, SD2 as shorter sides opposite each other, and sidesSD3, SD4 as longer sides opposite each other. The direction from theside SD1 toward the side SD2 is DR3. The opposite direction of DR3 isDR6. The direction from the side SD3 toward the side SD4 is DR2. Theopposite direction of DR2 is DR5. The antenna unit 92 protrudes from theside SD1, which is a shorter side of the substrate 40. The antenna unit92 also protrudes from the side of the sensor unit 20 corresponding tothe side SD1. Specifically, the antenna unit 92 is provided in such away as to protrude in the direction DR6 from the side SD1.

Thus, for example, the antenna unit 92 is not located directly above theelectrically conductive case 24 of the sensor unit 20. Specifically, theinductor of the metal wiring of the antenna unit 92 is not locateddirectly above the electrically conductive case 24. Therefore, the dropin the sensitivity of the antenna unit 92 due to the electricallyconductive case 24 can be restrained. That is, when the antenna unit 92is provided in the direction DR3 from the side SD1 in FIG. 12, thepresence of the electrically conductive case 24 causes a drop in thesensitivity of the antenna unit 92. However, when the antenna unit 92 isprovided in the direction DR6 from the side SD1 as shown in FIG. 12, theelectrically conducive case 24 is not present directly below the antennaunit 92 and the sensitivity of the antenna unit 92 can be improvedaccordingly.

As described above, the inertial measurement unit 10 according to thisembodiment includes the sensor unit 20 having at least one inertialsensor, the wireless communication unit 90 wirelessly transmittinginformation based on detection information from the inertial sensor, andthe antenna unit 92 coupled to the wireless communication unit 90.Providing the wireless communication unit 90 and the antenna unit 92 inthis way enables wireless transmission of information based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor, to outside. Thus, the informationbased on the detection information can be transmitted to an externaldevice, for example, even without coupling the inertial measurement unit10 to the external device. Therefore, user-friendliness can be improved.

The sensor unit 20 includes the inertial sensor, the sensor substrate210 provided with the inertial sensor, and the electrically conductivecase 24 accommodating the sensor substrate 210. That is, in FIG. 15, thesensor substrate 210 provided with the acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y,30Z as the inertial sensor is accommodated in the case 24. In FIGS. 16and 17, the sensor substrate 210 provided with the acceleration sensor32 and the angular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z as the inertial sensoris accommodated in the case 24. Thus, the inertial sensor isaccommodated in the electrically conductive case 24 and thereforedeterioration in the accuracy of detection information from the inertialsensor due to external electromagnetic waves or the like can berestrained.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the inertial measurement unit 10 according tothis embodiment, the antenna unit 92 is provided in such a way as toprotrude from a side of the case 24, as viewed in a plan view in thedirection DR1 toward the installation surface 2. That is, the antennaunit 92 protrudes from the side SD1 of the substrate 40 and alsoprotrudes from the side of the case 24 below corresponding to the sideSD1. Thus, the drop in the sensitivity of the antenna unit 92 due to theelectrically conductive case 24 can be restrained. Therefore, both ofrestraint on the deterioration in the accuracy of detection of theinertial sensor by accommodating the inertial sensor in the electricallyconductive case 24 and improvement in the sensitivity of the antennaunit 92 can be achieved.

In the inertial measurement unit 10 having the configuration describedwith reference to FIG. 12, the wireless communication unit 90 and theantenna unit 92 need not necessarily be provided at the substrate 40 andmay be provided, for example, at other substrates than the substrate 40.For example, the wireless communication unit 90 and the antenna unit 92may be provided at the substrate 48, where the display unit 70 isprovided, instead of the substrate 40, where the processing unit 50 orthe like is provided. Alternatively, various modified embodiments, forexample, installing the wireless communication unit 90 and the antennaunit 92 at the top surface of the sensor unit 20, can be employed.

The inertial measurement unit 10 has the substrate 40 provided with thewireless communication unit 90, and the protection plate 160. Asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the substrate 40 is providedbetween the sensor unit 20 and the protection plate 160. As shown inFIG. 12, the antenna unit 92 does not protrude from the protection plate160, as viewed in a plan view in the direction DR1. That is, the antennaunit 92 protrudes in the direction DR6 from the side SD1 of thesubstrate 40 and the corresponding side of the sensor unit 20 but doesnot protrude in the direction DR6 from the corresponding side of theprotection plate 160. For example, the electrically conductive case 24of the sensor unit 20 is not present below the antenna unit 92, whereasthe protection plate 160 is provided above the antenna unit 92 in such away as to cover the antenna unit 92. Providing the antenna unit 92 insuch a way as not to protrude from the protection plate 160 as viewed ina plan view and providing the protection plate 160 in such a way as tocover the antenna unit 92 can prevent a situation such as where anunwanted impact is applied to the antenna unit 92. For example, asituation where a finger of the user's hand or the like accidentallytouches the antenna unit 92 and causes damage or the like to the antennaunit 92, can be restrained. Therefore, the sensitivity of the antennaunit 92 can be improved by providing the antenna unit 92 in such a wayas to protrude from the electrically conductive case 24 as viewed in aplan view, and the antenna unit 92 can be protected from an externalimpact by providing the antenna unit 92 in such a way as not to protrudefrom the protection plate 160 as viewed in a plan view.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes the substrate 40 provided withthe wireless communication unit 90. The antenna unit 92 is provided insuch a way as to protrude from the side SD1, which is a shorter side ofthe substrate 40. Specifically, a communication substrate 94 isinstalled at the substrate 40, where the processing unit 50 or the likeis provided. The wireless communication unit 90 and the antenna unit 92are provided at the communication substrate 94. That is, a wirelesscommunication IC as the wireless communication unit 90 is installed atthe communication substrate 94, and an inductor of a metal wiring isformed at a substrate part protruding from the side SD1 of the substrate40, of the communication substrate 94, thus forming the antenna unit 92.The substrate part where the wireless communication unit 90 is installedand the substrate part where the antenna unit 92 is formed may be formedas a single substrate or may be formed as separate substrates. Providingthe antenna unit 92 in such a way as to protrude from the side SD1 ofthe substrate 40 in this way can reduce the risk of an unwanted impactbeing applied to the antenna unit 92. For example, a situation such aswhere a finger of the user's hand touches the antenna unit 92 andapplies an unwanted impact to the antenna unit 92 when the user holdsthe inertial measurement unit 10 on the two longer sides with the palmin contact with the top surface thereof, can be restrained.

As shown in FIG. 12, the wireless communication unit 90 is provided atthe side SD1, which is a shorter side of the substrate 40. Specifically,the wireless communication unit 90 is arranged along the side SD1 in thedirection DR3 from the side SD1. The antenna unit 92 coupled to thewireless communication unit 90 is provided in such a way as to protrudein the direction DR6 from the side SD1. Thus, the antenna unit 92 can beelectrically coupled via a short path to the wireless communication unit90 arranged at the side SD1 of the substrate 40, and the sensitivity ofthe antenna unit 92 can be improved by making the antenna unit 92protrude from the side SD1. Therefore, the wireless communication unit90 and the antenna unit 92 can be installed in a compact form at thesubstrate 40, and improvement in the sensitivity of the antenna unit 92can be achieved.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes the substrate 40 provided withthe wireless communication unit 90, and the processing unit 50 providedat the substrate 40 and performing processing based on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor of the sensor unit 20. The wirelesscommunication unit 90 transmits the information processed by theprocessing unit 50. For example, when the processing unit 50 performsprocessing to process detection information from the inertial sensor,the wireless communication unit 90 wirelessly transmits, for example,the processed detection information to outside. When the processing unit50 performs analysis processing on detection information from theinertial sensor, the wireless communication unit 90 transmits, forexample, information about the result of the analysis processing tooutside. Thus, instead of detection information from the inertial sensoritself, information resulting from predetermined processing performed onthe detection information by the processing unit 50 can be wirelesslytransmitted to outside by the wireless communication unit 90. Therefore,an external device of the inertial measurement unit 10 need not performthe processing performed by the processing unit 50 of the inertialmeasurement unit 10, and reduction in processing load and cost reductionor the like of the measuring system including the inertial measurementunit 10 can be achieved.

The handling of the detection information from the inertial sensor isdifficult and needs expertise and therefore has the problem of pooruser-friendliness. However, as the inertial measurement unit 10transmits the information processed by the processing unit 50,information that is easy for the user to handle can be transmitted andtherefore user-friendliness can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the inertial measurement unit 10 according tothis embodiment, the antenna unit 92 is provided in such a way as toprotrude from the side SD1 of the substrate, and the processing unit 50is provided between the wireless communication unit 90 and the side SD2opposite the side SD1. The side SD1 is the first shorter side. The sideSD2 is the second shorter side. For example, when the direction from theside SD1 toward the side SD2 of the substrate 40 is DR3 and the oppositedirection of the direction DR3 is DR6, the antenna unit 92 is providedin the direction DR6 from the wireless communication unit 90 in such away as to protrude from the side SD1 of the substrate 40. The wirelesscommunication unit 90 is provided in the direction DR3 from the antennaunit 92. The processing unit 50 is provided in the direction DR3 fromthe wireless communication unit 90. Thus, the antenna unit 92, thewireless communication unit 90, and the processing unit 50 can beefficiently arranged along the direction from the side SD1, which is ashorter side of the substrate 40, toward the opposite side SD2. Forexample, the antenna unit 92, the wireless communication unit 90, andthe processing unit 50 can be arrayed in this order along the directionfrom the side SD3 to the side SD4, which is a longer-side direction ofthe substrate 40. Thus, the efficiency of installation of circuitcomponents at the substrate 40 can be improved.

The inertial measurement unit 10 includes the interface unit 100 forwired communication of data with outside. The interface unit 100 isarranged at the side SD2, which is a shorter side of the substrate.Specifically, the interface unit 100 is arranged along the side SD2 inthe direction DR6 from the side SD2. The interface unit 100 is, forexample, a circuit implementing a communication interface of UART, GPI,or SPI or the like. The provision of such an interface unit 100 enablestransmission of information based on detection information from theinertial sensor to an external device and acceptance of a command fromthe external device, via a broadly used wired communication interface ofUART, GPI, or SPI or the like. Since the interface unit 100 is providedat the side SD2 of the substrate 40, the antenna unit 92, the wirelesscommunication unit 90, the processing unit 50, and the interface unit100 can be efficiently arranged along the longer-side direction of thesubstrate 40. Thus, the efficiency of installation of circuit componentsat the substrate 40 can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 12, at least one of the mode changeover switch 80, thereset switch 82, and the measurement start switch 84 is provided at theside SD3, which is a longer side of the substrate 40. Thus, the wirelesscommunication unit 90, the processing unit 50, and the interface unit100 can be arranged, using an area between the side SD1 and the sideSD2, which are the shorter sides of the substrate 40, and the modechangeover switch 80, the reset switch 82, and the measurement startswitch 84 can be arranged, using an area along the side SD3, which is alonger side of the substrate 40. Therefore, an efficient installationlayout can be achieved. Also, the inertial measurement unit 10 includesat least one fixing member 11, 12, 13 for removably fixing the sensorunit 20 and the substrate 40, where the wireless communication unit 90or the like is provided. Thus, as described above, the extensibility ofthe inertial measurement unit 10 can be improved, and a situation wherean unwanted vibration or the like due to resonance or the like istransmitted to the inertial measurement unit 10 and adversely affectsmeasurement can be restrained.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the inertial measurement unit 10 according tothis embodiment, the sensor unit 20 has the sensor-side connector 26 atthe surface facing the substrate 40. That is, the connector 26 isprovided at the top surface of the sensor unit 20. The substrate 40 hasa substrate-side connector 46 coupled to the sensor-side connector 26,at the surface facing the sensor unit 20. That is, the connector 46 isprovided at the bottom surface of the substrate 40. The connector 46 ofthe substrate 40 is electrically coupled to the connector 26 of thesensor unit 20. Specifically, in the state where the sensor unit 20 andthe substrate 40 are fixed together via the fixing members 11, 12, 13,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 26 of the sensor unit 20 andthe connector 46 of the substrate 40 are electrically coupled together.Thus, detection information from the inertial sensor of the sensor unit20 can be communicated to the substrate 40 via the connectors 26, 46.The processing unit 50 provided at the substrate 40 can performprocessing based on the detection information from the inertial sensor.The display unit 60 provided at the substrate 40 can perform a displaybased on the detection information from the inertial sensor. Theconnector 26 is, for example, a male connector formed of a plurality ofpin terminals. The connector 46 is, for example, a female connector towhich a male connector can be coupled.

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram explaining an operation of theinertial measurement unit 10 according to this embodiment. When theinertial measurement unit 10 is supplied with electric power and startsup, the inertial measurement unit 10 first shifts to the state ofinitialization processing. When it is detected that BT (Bluetooth(trademark registered)) is enabled, based on selection via the slideswitch 86, the inertial measurement unit 10 performs BT setup and thenreturns to the state of initialization processing on completion of thesetup. When BT is enabled, wireless communication is disabled.Meanwhile, when a shift to a light display operation is detected, basedon selection via the slide switch 86, the inertial measurement unit 10shifts to a light display mode. In the light display mode, the interfaceunit 100 shifts into a GPIO output mode, enabling light display viaPATLITE (trademark registered) or the like using the inertialmeasurement unit 10.

When BT being enabled or a shift to the light display mode is notselected via the slide switch 86, the inertial measurement unit 10assumes that a shift to a standby operation is detected, and thereforeshifts to a standby mode. When learning is requested in the standbymode, for example, by a long press on the measurement start switch 84 orby a command, the inertial measurement unit 10 shifts to a learning modeand performs learning processing. In the learning mode, for example, apredetermined light-emitting element in the display unit 60 flashes onand off, or for example, the letters of “LEARNING” are displayed at thedisplay unit 70, thus notifying the user that learning is underway.Then, measurement is performed during a learning period in the learningmode. Based on the result of the measurement during the learning period,a measurement threshold as measurement criteria information for inertialmeasurement is found. The threshold thus found is stored into the memory102, which is a non-volatile memory. On completion of the learningprocessing, the inertial measurement unit 10 returns to the standbymode. When setup is requested in the standby mode, for example, by acommand given from an external device or the like, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 performs various kinds of setup processing about theinertial measurement unit 10. On completion of the setup, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 returns to the standby mode.

Also, when a request to start state monitoring is made in the standbymode by a press on the measurement start switch 84, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 shifts to a state monitoring mode. In the statemonitoring mode, the display unit 60 and the display unit 70 display theresult of measurement. At this time, a press on the mode changeoverswitch 80 changes the display mode. Also, for example, when the measuredvalue exceeds the threshold in the state monitoring mode, the inertialmeasurement unit 10 shifts to an alarm state and, for example, alight-emitting element for alarm in the display unit 60 flashes on andoff. As the inertial measurement unit 10 shifts to the alarm state, logdata is saved. When a request to stop state monitoring is made in thestate monitoring mode or in the alarm state, for example, by anotherpress on the measurement start switch 84, the inertial measurement unit10 returns to the standby mode.

In the inertial measurement unit 10 according to this embodiment asdescribed above, the user first installs the inertial measurement unit10 at a device or floor surface and presses the measurement start switch84. For example, the user holds the inertial measurement unit 10 withthe palm in contact with the top surface of the inertial measurementunit 10 and presses the measurement start switch 84, using a finger ofthe hand or the like. To cause the inertial measurement unit 10 to learna threshold, the user long-presses the measurement start switch 84,which causes the inertial measurement unit 10 to learn a measurementthreshold. The user then presses the measurement start switch 84. Afterpressing the measurement start switch 84, the user waits for apredetermined measurement time. For example, the measurement time is aduration of 5 to 10 seconds. The length of the measurement time can beset. As the measurement time ends, a display via the LED as thelight-emitting element in the display unit 60 or a display on thedisplay panel 72 of the display unit 70 notifies the user of the resultof the measurement. At this time, the user can switch between variousdisplay modes by pressing the mode changeover switch 80. By pressing themeasurement start switch 84 again, the user can stop the statemonitoring mode and shift the inertial measurement unit 10 to thestandby mode. In this way, with the inertial measurement unit 10according to this embodiment, the user can carry out measurement by asimple operation. Since the display units 60, 70 display informationbased on detection information from the inertial sensor, the user cancheck the result of measurement via the display of information that iseasy to understand, and this can improve convenience. The user can alsocheck the result of measurement in various display modes by operatingthe mode changeover switch 80. Also, since the inertial measurement unit10 is provided with the wireless communication unit 90 and the antennaunit 92, the inertial measurement unit 10 can wirelessly transmitinformation based on detection information from the inertial sensor, toan external device. In this case, since the antenna unit 92 is providedin such a way as to protrude from the main surface of the case 24 of thesensor unit 20, wireless communication can be performed with highantenna sensitivity.

4. Sensor Unit

FIG. 15 shows a first configuration example of the sensor unit 20. FIG.15 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor unit 20. The sensorunit 20 shown in FIG. 15 includes the sensor substrate 210 provided withat least one acceleration sensor as at least one inertial sensor, andthe case 24 accommodating the sensor substrate 210. In FIG. 15, theacceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z detecting an acceleration indirections along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively,are provided at the sensor substrate 210, as at least one accelerationsensor. The acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z are installed at thesensor substrate 210 in such a way that the main surfaces of theacceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z are orthogonal to the X-axis, theY-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively. The acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y,30Z are, for example, acceleration sensors using a quartz crystalvibrator and can detect an acceleration with higher accuracy than a MEMS(micro-electromechanical systems) acceleration sensor. Thus, a vibrationor the like of a device or floor surface can be detected with highaccuracy. In FIG. 15, the three acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z fordetecting an acceleration on the three axes are provided at the sensorsubstrate 210. However, various modified embodiments can be employed,such as providing one acceleration sensor for detecting an accelerationon one axis at the sensor substrate 210, or providing two accelerationsensors for detecting an acceleration on two axes at the sensorsubstrate 210.

Also, the processing unit 212 implemented by an ASIC, microcomputer orthe like is provided at the sensor substrate 210. For example, theprocessing unit 212 of the sensor unit 20 may execute a part or all ofthe processing carried out by the processing unit 50 of the inertialmeasurement unit 10. At a second surface, that is, the back side of afirst surface, which is the main surface of the sensor substrate 210where the acceleration sensors 30X, 30Y, 30Z are provided, the connector26 formed of a plurality of connector terminals is provided. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 13, the connector 26 of the sensor unit20 is coupled to the connector 46 at the back side of the substrate 40in the inertial measurement unit 10.

The case 24 is formed of an electrically conductive material such as ametal and has the container 220 and the lid 222. The sensor substrate210 is accommodated in the accommodation space formed by the container220 and the lid 222. The container 220 and the lid 222 are fixedtogether and airtightly sealed by a fixing member such as a screw. Asealing member 224 as a buffer member is provided between the lid 222and the sensor substrate 210.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a second configuration example of the sensor unit20. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor unit 20. FIG.17 is a plan view of the sensor substrate 210. The sensor unit 20 shownin FIGS. 16 and 17 includes the sensor substrate 210 provided with atleast one acceleration sensor and at least one angular velocity sensor,as at least one inertial sensor, and the case 24 accommodating thesensor substrate 210. In FIGS. 16 and 17, the acceleration sensor 32detecting an acceleration in directions along the X-axis, the Y-axis,and the Z-axis is provided at the sensor substrate 210, as at least oneacceleration sensor. Inside the acceleration sensor 32, a sensor elementdetecting an acceleration in the X-axis direction and the Y-axisdirection and a sensor element detecting an acceleration in the Z-axisdirection are provided. These sensor elements are, for example, MEMSsensor elements. Also, various modified embodiments can be employed,such as providing individual acceleration sensors for the X-axis, theY-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively, or providing an accelerationsensor for two axes or one axis of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and theZ-axis, at the sensor substrate 210. In FIGS. 16 and 17, the angularvelocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z detecting an angular velocity about theX-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively, are provided as atleast one angular velocity sensor. The angular velocity sensors 34X,34Y, 34Z are installed at the sensor substrate 210 in such a way thatthe main surfaces of the angular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z areorthogonal to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively. Theangular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z are, for example, gyro sensorsdetecting an angular velocity, using a quartz crystal vibrator.Providing not only an acceleration sensor but also an angular velocitysensor at the sensor substrate 210 in this way enables not onlydetection of a vibration or the like but also detection of a tilt,attitude change and the like of a target object. In FIGS. 16 and 17, thethree angular velocity sensors 34X, 34Y, 34Z for detecting an angularvelocity about the three axes are provided at the sensor substrate 210.However, various modified embodiments can be employed, such as providingone angular velocity sensor for detecting an angular velocity about oneaxis at the sensor substrate 210, or providing two angular velocitysensors for detecting an angular velocity about two axes at the sensorsubstrate 210.

As shown in FIG. 17, at the first surface, which is the main surface ofthe sensor substrate 210 where the acceleration sensor 32 or the like isprovided, the connector 26 formed of a plurality of connector terminalsis provided. As described with reference to FIG. 13, the connector 26 ofthe sensor unit 20 is coupled to the connector 46 at the back side ofthe substrate 40 in the inertial measurement unit 10. At the secondsurface, which is the back side of the sensor substrate 210, aprocessing unit, not illustrated, implemented by an ASIC, microcomputeror the like is provided. For example, the processing unit of the sensorunit 20 may execute a part or all of the processing carried out by theprocessing unit 50 of the inertial measurement unit 10.

The case 24 is formed of an electrically conductive material such as ametal and has the container 220 and the lid 222. The sensor substrate210 is accommodated in the accommodation space formed by the container220 and the lid 222. The container 220 and the lid 222 are fixedtogether and airtightly sealed by a fixing member such as a screw. Thesealing member 224 as a buffer member is provided between the lid 222and the sensor substrate 210.

As described above, the inertial measurement unit according to thisembodiment includes: a sensor unit having at least one inertial sensor;a display unit performing a display based on detection information fromthe inertial sensor; and a mode changeover switch. The mode changeoverswitch changes a display mode of the display unit.

According to this embodiment, the display unit provided in the inertialmeasurement unit can perform a display based on detection informationfrom the inertial sensor of the sensor unit. Therefore, the work ofchecking the result of measurement can be simplified. Also, since thedisplay mode of the display unit can be changed by operating the modechangeover switch, various demands about the display form of the resultof measurement can be met.

In the embodiment, when a direction from the inertial measurement unittoward an installation surface for the inertial measurement unit isdefined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the firstdirection is defined as a second direction, the mode changeover switchmay have a moving part movable in the second direction. A movement ofthe moving part of the mode changeover switch may give an instruction tochange the display mode of the display unit.

Thus, the user can give an instruction to change the display mode by asimple operation of moving the moving part of the mode changeover switchin the second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction fromthe inertial measurement unit toward the installation surface.

In the embodiment, the moving part of the mode changeover switch, whennot pressed, may protrude from a side of the sensor unit as viewed in aplan view in the first direction.

Thus, the display mode of the display unit is changed by a simpleoperation of pressing the moving part of the mode changeover switchprotruding from the side of the sensor unit when not pressed. Therefore,user-friendliness can be improved.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include ameasurement start switch for starting measurement by the inertialmeasurement unit.

Thus, measurement by the inertial measurement unit can be started by asimple operation of operating the measurement start switch. Therefore,user-friendliness can be improved.

In the embodiment, when a direction from the inertial measurement unittoward an installation surface for the inertial measurement unit isdefined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the firstdirection is defined as a second direction, the measurement start switchmay have a moving part movable in the second direction. A movement ofthe moving part of the measurement start switch may give an instructionto start measurement by the inertial measurement unit.

Thus, the user can give an instruction to start measurement by theinertial measurement unit by a simple operation of moving the movingpart of the measurement start switch in the second direction, which isorthogonal to the first direction from the inertial measurement unittoward the installation surface.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include a memory,and a teach switch for giving an instruction to store measurementcriteria information for inertial measurement into the memory.

Thus, the inertial measurement unit can be made to learn measurementcriteria information corresponding to a measurement target, andmeasurement using the measurement criteria information can be realized.

In the embodiment, when a direction from the inertial measurement unittoward an installation surface for the inertial measurement unit isdefined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the firstdirection is defined as a second direction, the teach switch may have amoving part movable in the second direction. A movement of the movingpart of the teach switch may give an instruction to store themeasurement criteria information into the memory.

Thus, the user can give an instruction to store measurement criteriainformation into the memory by a simple operation of moving the movingpart of the teach switch in the second direction, which is orthogonal tothe first direction from the inertial measurement unit toward theinstallation surface.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include a substratewhere the mode changeover switch is provided.

Thus, the mode changeover switch can be installed in a compact form inthe inertial measurement unit.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include at leastone fixing member removably fixing the sensor unit and the substratetogether.

Thus, the sensor unit and the substrate incorporated in the inertialmeasurement unit can be freely changed and the extensibility of theinertial measurement unit ca be improved.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include a firstsubstrate and a second substrate, as the substrate. The mode changeoverswitch may be provided at the first substrate. The display unit may beprovided at the second substrate. The first substrate may be providedbetween the sensor unit and the second substrate.

Thus, when the mode changeover switch provided at the first substrate isoperated, the display mode of the display unit provided at the secondsubstrate changes. Since the mode changeover switch is provided at thefirst substrate provided between the sensor unit and the secondsubstrate, the operability of the mode changeover switch can beimproved.

In the embodiment, the display unit may display, in a first displaymode, a result of determination based on a first determinationcriterion, and in a second display mode, a result of determination basedon a second determination criterion, as a result of determination basedon the detection information.

Thus, as the user operates the mode changeover switch, the result ofdetermination about measurement is displayed at the display unit, basedon different determination criteria. The result of determination basedon various determination criteria can be presented to the user.

In the embodiment, the first determination criterion may be adetermination criterion of VC (vibration criteria), and the seconddetermination criterion may be a determination criterion set by a user.

Thus, the display mode can be switched between the first display mode,in which the result of determination based on the VC determinationcriterion is displayed, and the second display mode, in which the resultof determination based on the determination criterion set by the user isdisplayed, via the mode changeover switch.

In the embodiment, a unit of information displayed based on thedetection information may be changed via the mode changeover switch.

Thus, the measured value can be displayed in various units to the uservia the operation of the mode changeover switch. Therefore,user-friendliness can be improved.

In the embodiment, the inertial measurement unit may include aprocessing unit performing processing based on the detectioninformation. The processing unit may perform analysis processing onvibration information about a detection target. The display unit maydisplay information about a result of the analysis processing.

Thus, as the processing unit performs analysis processing on detectioninformation from the inertial sensor and the display unit displaysinformation about the result of the analysis processing, the user caneasily grasp the vibration state of the detection target.

In the embodiment, the sensor unit may include a sensor substrateprovided with at least one acceleration sensor as the at least oneinertial sensor, and a case accommodating the sensor substrate.

Thus, the display unit provided in the inertial measurement unit canperform a display based on detection information from the accelerationsensor provided at the sensor substrate of the sensor unit. Therefore,the work of checking the result of measurement can be simplified.

In the embodiment, the sensor unit may include a sensor substrateprovided with at least one acceleration sensor and at least one angularvelocity sensor, as the at least one inertial sensor, and a caseaccommodating the sensor substrate.

Thus, the display unit provided in the inertial measurement unit canperform a display based on detection information from the accelerationsensor and the angular velocity sensor provided at the sensor substrateof the sensor unit. Therefore, the work of checking the result ofmeasurement can be simplified.

The embodiment has been described above in detail. However, a personskilled in the art will readily understand that various modificationscan be made without substantially departing from the new matters andeffects of the present disclosure. Therefore, such modifications areunderstood as included in the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, a term described along with a different term having a broadermeaning or the same meaning, at least once in the specification ordrawings, can be replaced with the different term in any part of thespecification or drawings. Any combination of the embodiment and themodifications is included in the scope of the present disclosure. Theconfiguration, operation and the like of the inertial measurement unitare not limited those described in the embodiment and can be carried outwith various modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inertial measurement unit comprising: a sensorunit having at least one inertial sensor; a display unit performing adisplay based on detection information from the inertial sensor; and amode changeover switch that is configured to changes a display mode ofthe display unit.
 2. The inertial measurement unit according to claim 1,wherein when a direction from the inertial measurement unit toward aninstallation surface for the inertial measurement unit is defined as afirst direction and a direction orthogonal to the first direction isdefined as a second direction, the mode changeover switch has a movingpart movable in the second direction, and a movement of the moving partof the mode changeover switch gives an instruction to change the displaymode of the display unit.
 3. The inertial measurement unit according toclaim 2, wherein the moving part of the mode changeover switch, when notpressed, protrudes from a side of the sensor unit as viewed in a planview in the first direction.
 4. The inertial measurement unit accordingto claim 1, further comprising a measurement start switch for startingmeasurement by the inertial measurement unit.
 5. The inertialmeasurement unit according to claim 4, wherein when a direction from theinertial measurement unit toward an installation surface for theinertial measurement unit is defined as a first direction and adirection orthogonal to the first direction is defined as a seconddirection, the measurement start switch has a moving part movable in thesecond direction, and a movement of the moving part of the measurementstart switch gives an instruction to start measurement by the inertialmeasurement unit.
 6. The inertial measurement unit according to claim 1,further comprising: a memory; and a teach switch for giving aninstruction to store measurement criteria information for inertialmeasurement into the memory.
 7. The inertial measurement unit accordingto claim 6, wherein when a direction from the inertial measurement unittoward an installation surface for the inertial measurement unit isdefined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the firstdirection is defined as a second direction, the teach switch has amoving part movable in the second direction, and a movement of themoving part of the teach switch gives an instruction to store themeasurement criteria information into the memory.
 8. The inertialmeasurement unit according to claim 1, further comprising a substratewhere the mode changeover switch is provided.
 9. The inertialmeasurement unit according to claim 8, further comprising at least onefixing member removably fixing the sensor unit and the substratetogether.
 10. The inertial measurement unit according to claim 8,further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, as thesubstrate, wherein the mode changeover switch is provided at the firstsubstrate, the display unit is provided at the second substrate, and thefirst substrate is provided between the sensor unit and the secondsubstrate.
 11. The inertial measurement unit according to claim 1,wherein the display unit displays, in a first display mode, a result ofdetermination based on a first determination criterion, and in a seconddisplay mode, a result of determination based on a second determinationcriterion, as a result of determination based on the detectioninformation.
 12. The inertial measurement unit according to claim 11,wherein the first determination criterion is a determination criterionof VC (vibration criteria), and the second determination criterion is adetermination criterion set by a user.
 13. The inertial measurement unitaccording to claim 1, wherein a unit of information displayed based onthe detection information is changed via the mode changeover switch. 14.The inertial measurement unit according to claim 1, further comprising aprocessing unit performing processing based on the detectioninformation, wherein the processing unit performs analysis processing onvibration information about a detection target, and the display unitdisplays information about a result of the analysis processing.
 15. Theinertial measurement unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unitincludes: a sensor substrate provided with at least one accelerationsensor as the at least one inertial sensor; and a case accommodating thesensor substrate.
 16. The inertial measurement unit according to claim1, wherein the sensor unit includes: a sensor substrate provided with atleast one acceleration sensor and at least one angular velocity sensor,as the at least one inertial sensor; and a case accommodating the sensorsubstrate.